Thailand’s opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gestures during a news conference at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Command headquarters in Bangkok, on April 28.

Reuters

BANGKOK – As Thailand’s political turmoil spills into its sixth month, opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is emerging as an unlikely volunteer to spearhead efforts to end the political deadlock.

Democrat Party leader Mr. Abhisit has been meeting with key political figures, including the Armed Forces Supreme Commander, to discuss ways to find solution to the country’s political conflict. On Tuesday, Mr. Abhisit and party officials met with five members of the Election Commission to discuss a new election after Thailand’s Constitutional Court last month nullified the Feb. 2 vote.

His Tuesday meeting with the Election Commission didn’t reveal much about how the political deadlock will be broken. Mr. Abhisit didn’t say whether his party will contest in a new election.

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“The Election Commission and I view that the current political climate makes it hard to hold a successful election,” he told reporters after the meeting. “There are still concerns whether a new poll would solve the problem.”

Mr. Abhisit’s Democrat Party, which hasn’t been able to win an election since 1992, boycotted the Feb. 2 election. Mr. Abhisit didn’t say on Tuesday whether the party will contest in a new round of elections. But in his video statement released last week, the Oxford-educated 49-year-old said the way forward for the country is through constitutional and democratic reform, although he did not elaborate on details of his ideas.

Thailand has been rocked by political turmoil brought on by massive street rallies aimed at toppling Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since November. The pressure forced Ms. Yingluck to call a lower house dissolution a month later. Antigovernment protesters accused Ms. Yingluck of being a proxy for her powerful brother, former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military coup in 2006. Ms. Yingluck denied the claim.

An elderly Thai anti-government protester cheers during a rally at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority in Bangkok, on April 23.

European Pressphoto Agency

Mr. Abhisit’s new move has raised eyebrows among many political observers who question his motive thanks to his close tie with the street movement to pressure Ms. Yingluck to leave politics. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban served as Mr. Abhisit deputy party leader before he resigned with some other party executives to lead the rallies, some of which Mr. Abhisit participated in.

Mr. Abhisit’s reconciliation bid also drew ridicule and harsh criticism from his political allies and rivals. Antigovernment leader Suthep Thaugsuban said Ms. Abhisit’s campaign didn’t affect his plan for a major rally in the coming days. Ms. Yingluck’s supporters and her Pheu Thai Party said Mr. Abhisit is part of the conflict and suggested that a way to end political conflict is for Mr. Abhisit to tell protest leaders to stop.

Mr. Abhisit rejected claims that he had something to gain from his campaign.

His efforts come at the time when legal cases against Ms. Yingluck are reaching critical phase, which could determine her political fate. She is due to appear in court next week to defend her Cabinet’s 2011 decision to demote the then top national security adviser after a group of senators alleged she abused her power for the benefit of people close to her. Ms. Yingluck denied the allegation, saying the transfer was made in accordance with the laws.

Ms. Yingluck’s tenure as a caretaker prime minister could potentially end if she was found guilty.

She also faces charges of negligence of duty to prevent major financial losses to the state from the government’s multibillion rice subsidy program. Ms. Yingluck vigorously defended the subsidy, whereby the government paid local farmers up to 50% above market price to boost rural income.

Ms. Yingluck said Monday that the public should give Mr. Abhisit a chance to seek solution to end the stalemate, adding that the government is willing to support and cooperate to foster reconciliation in the country.

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